■JO Mar., 1911] Potato Experiments at Cheltenham. 173 



It may be stated that any rough shed can be used for the purpose. 

 The plans and specifications given are those of the shed erected at Mr. 

 Wedds garden, and which is large enough to contain more than sufficient 

 seed to plant an acre of ground. This will be a guide to those who 

 have no accommodation, and wi>h to erect a suitable place. The shed 

 .may be built higher, as it is u.seful for other purposes when not required 

 tor potatoes. The timber, &c., for this particular shed cost £^2 los., 

 but it is quite possible that the grower will be able to utilize material 

 alreadv on the farm. 



I am indebted to Mr. C. M. Xeild, of the Engineer's Branch, for 

 the drawings and specifications published in connexion with this article. 



It is a question whether the cost may not be reduced in our mild 

 climate by spreading the seed out in a sheltered place to bud, having 

 ^sufficient trays only to take them into the field for planting. 



Advantage.s of Sprouting Seed. 



The chief advantage of sprouting seed in trays is the increased yield 

 in the crop. This is due to the fact that the plants come overground 

 very quickly, and meet with more genial weather than when planted 

 ■early. Thev escape the early frost, are more A'igorous, and consequently 

 better able to resist disease. 



Sprouted .seed may be planted eight weeks later than unsprouted, 

 thereby giving a longer perioii for the removal of the preceding crop. 

 It also affords an opportunity of rejecting " thready-eyed " and weak 

 tubers. Hence, there will be fewer misses in the crop, and less .stray 

 varieties to weed out. It also reduces the percentage of small and un 

 marketable tubers ; in some \arieties this difference amounted to nearly 

 30 per cent, in favour of sprouted .seed, .see Table 2. In every instance 

 the market sample was worth fully 5s. per ton more from sprouted seed. 



The seed should be placed ni the trays as soon as dug, or as soon 

 as convenient after digging. The filling of the trays is a simple matter. 

 The tubers are poured in, and given a shake to settle them below the 

 level of the tray. Each tray will hold about the following weights, viz., 

 half fruit cases about 24 lbs., one-third kerosene cases iS lbs. to 20 lbs. 

 The trays may be stacked on toj) or one another, until the buds begin 10 

 move when thev should lie placed on the racks. 



Sizt OF Seev. 



In these experiments the average run of marketable and seed potatoes 

 was u.sed ; only very large and misshapen tubers were rejected. The large 

 seed was cut freely — much of it to a single eye. The sections were cut as 

 large and as uniformly in size as the tuber would allow, the cutting being 

 ■done immediately before planting. Xo material was u.sed to dry the .sets. 



A test of cut versus whole seed was made in the 1909-10 experiments, 

 and was entirely in favour of cut seed. Objection is rai.sed by some 

 growers to planting the stem sections of potatoes. During the 1910-11 

 work the stem sections of two varieties, Carman and Up-to-date, were 

 planle(l bv themselves. In th<' ca.se of Carinan the crop was not quite 

 .so goorl. whilst in the Up-to-date there was very little difference. In 

 neither was the difference suffii'ient to warrant throwing away all .stem 

 sections. 



Time of Traving. 



The tubers should Iw placed in the trays as carlv in the season as 

 possible. For .August September |)l.intiiig the\ should l>e trayed at the 



